 How to Write a Preschool Lesson PlanCreating a preschool lesson plan doesn’t have to be complicated — in fact, it can be simple, intentional, and even enjoyable! Whether you're planning for a classroom, a home daycare, or homeschooling your little one, having a well-thought-out lesson plan can bring structure, creativity, and confidence to your teaching. In this guide, you’ll learn how to write a preschool lesson plan step-by-step, using a process that keeps learning playful and purposeful. Table of ContentsIn this post we'll cover:
Why Plan Preschool Lessons?Preschoolers thrive on consistency and play-based learning. A good lesson plan helps you:
Step 1: Start with a Theme Using a theme like "Insects," "Weather," or "Community Helpers" helps tie your activities together and keeps children engaged through familiar repetition. A theme can guide your stories, crafts, songs, and more. Pro Tip: Browse our theme pages to get started — they make planning even easier. Themes may be based on: - The season, month, or holiday - Cultural celebrations or traditions - Interests the children are showing . Consider: - The current interests of the children - The developmental levels of the children - Be aware of stereotypes and bias. Step 2: Set Your Learning ObjectivesThese are the skills or concepts you want children to explore. In preschool, objectives are often developmental and play-based. For example:
Keep it simple and developmentally appropriate. Ask Yourself: Are there specific skills you are trying to teach? Are there early learning standards you want to meet? Which of the domains for learning would you like to cover? Your learning objectives define what you want children to learn. There are many concepts and skills for children to learn at this age and there are many ways to approach teaching them. Consider what you want to teach your children and why it's important for them to learn it. Think of this step in terms of an educational plan that will be the foundation of everything else your children learn in the future. Step 3: Plan for Assessment Once your learning objectives are set, ask yourself: “How will I know they’re learning it?” Preschool assessments are simple and informal. You might:
Tip: You’re not testing — you’re observing and documenting growth. Assessments help you adjust your teaching and celebrate progress. Add a spot in your lesson plan template to note how you’ll assess each activity. It can be as simple as “observe,” “photo evidence,” or “check for understanding.” To make this step easier, be sure to grab our Free Preschool Assessment Binder — it includes printable checklists, progress trackers, and observation forms that align perfectly with the lesson planning steps in this post. It’s a great way to keep your documentation organized and accessible all year long. Step 4: Choose a timeframe Decide if you’re planning for:
Step 5: Plan Your Activities for your Routine Now that your learning objectives and assessment strategies are in place, it’s time to decide how to teach them through meaningful, developmentally appropriate activities. In preschool, children thrive on routine — and a well-planned day includes a thoughtful balance of:
These formats give children multiple ways to explore concepts, build skills, and engage with peers in ways that match their learning style and energy levels throughout the day. Use your Daily Classroom Routine or Homeschool Routine as a planning Framework. Your daily schedule already includes predictable times like Circle Time, Learning Centers, Outdoor Play, and Snack. Use this routine to your advantage by embedding intentional learning activities into each part. Here’s how it could look: Whole Group Activities (W): These are structured times when the entire group is engaged together — great for introducing new concepts, reading stories, singing, and building classroom community. Examples:
Small Group Activities (SG): Small group time allows for focused instruction and skill-building. These groups can be led by a teacher or assistant and rotated throughout the week so every child gets individual support. Examples:
💡 Pro Tip: Rotate students into your Small Group Center while others are in free play or at self-guided stations. You don’t have to meet with every child every day — spread groups across the week. Individual/Free Play Learning Centers (FP):These are open-ended areas that promote independence, creativity, and child-led exploration. You can still tie them to your theme or learning objectives! Examples:
🧭 Planning Tip:When you write your weekly or daily plans, label each activity with:
This helps you instantly see whether your day is balanced and whether you're giving kids a variety of ways to explore concepts. Step 6: Prepare Materials Make a list of everything you’ll need for each activity (books, art supplies, printables, etc.). Prepping ahead saves time and ensures you’re ready to go when it’s teaching time. Step 7: Plan for Flexibility Even the best plans may need to shift. Kids might not be into a certain activity that day — and that’s okay! Have a few “backup” ideas or open-ended materials available. You can also extend popular activities or simplify those that are too challenging. Step 8: Reflect and Adjust After the week or lesson wraps up, take a few minutes to reflect:
Example Daily Lesson Plan Outline Here’s a simple daily template you can follow:
Theme: Bugs & Insects Lesson Objectives: Learn about insect body parts and practice counting to 6 9:00Story: The Very Hungry Caterpillar (Whole Group) Literacy & sequencing-Observe story recall 9:30 Ladybug counting game (Small Group) Math: counting to 6-Count aloud in small group 10:00 Free Play: bugs & dirt sensory bin-(Independent Play) Science/sensory-Watch for sorting, labeling 
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